Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in her Department and its predecessors were paid over £100,000 in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of people in the Department for Transport earning over £100,000 is set out in the following table for each year since 2003. Earnings comprise basic salary plus bonus, where applicable. Figures prior to 2003 are not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 19 
			 2005 25 
			 2006 44 
			 2007 48 
		
	
	The figures for 2006 include the impact of transfer to the Department of the responsibilities of the Strategic Rail Authority, including about 30 senior civil servants, some earning above £100,000.